Vacationeers Theme Parks & More

In Episode 270 of the Vacationeers Theme Parks & More Podcast, Tom is joined by Jon for a packed theme park news episode covering major stories from Disney, Universal, United Parks, Six Flags, and more.

The big breaking story this week is Fun Spot America Atlanta announcing it will permanently close after its final operating day on August 2, 2026. Tom and Jon discuss what that could mean for ArieForce One, the Rocky Mountain Construction coaster that quickly became the park’s signature attraction.

They also cover Six Flags Over Texas delaying Tormenta Rampaging Run, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay naming Jon Vigue as its new park president, Universal Epic Universe adding Universal Celestial Goodnight, Universal Orlando’s July 4th entertainment plans, and the latest Halloween Horror Nights 35 house announcements, including Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control, H.R. Bloodengutz Presents: A Halloween Fright-Tacular!, MADLANDS: Caged Cannibals, Cybergoria, and INVASION: Alien Abduction.

On the Disney side, the episode covers the Disneyland Tiana’s Bayou Adventure guest incident, Walt Disney World’s July 4th fireworks offerings, Disney’s 2026 holiday announcements, the permanent retirement of the Grand Floridian gingerbread house, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party dates, Disney Jollywood Nights extending into January, EPCOT Festival of the Holidays, Oogie Boogie Bash replacing Frightfully Fun Parade with Madame Leota’s Swinging Wake, the Eat to the Beat concert lineup, Disney BoardWalk updates, Disney Lakeshore Lodge details, and Level99 opening at Disney Springs.

Plus, Tom and Jon check in on recent Vacationeers YouTube videos, Jon’s Disney food stops, SeaWorld Orlando’s Electric Ocean entertainment, and what’s coming in Episode 271.

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In this episode of the Vacationeers Theme Parks & More Podcast, Tom welcomes back Dave from the Adventures by D and Dave’s Dugout Grill YouTube channels.

Dave discusses his first-ever visit to Six Flags Over Texas, sharing his initial thoughts on the park, what the overall day was like, and the rides he was able and not able to experience during his visit. From first impressions to ride reactions, Dave gives us a first-timer’s perspective on the original Six Flags park. 

Was Six Flags Over Texas better than expected? Did the park make a strong first impression? And most importantly, would Dave go back?

Grab a seat, lower your restraint, and enjoy Episode 269 of the Vacationeers Theme Parks & More Podcast.

So until the next blog, podcast or livestream, keep making memories.

This week, we break away from our normal format because Tom was not prepared — but it’s his birthday month, so cut him some slack.

Tom and Jon “kick” things off with a look at the FIFA® World Cup 2026 Experience at LEGOLAND Florida, then head over to Universal Orlando Resort where FIFA has taken over CityWalk and the Universal Mega Movie Parade has returned for the summer.

Tom also shares details from his day-of-recording visit to SeaWorld Orlando with Elena and some of her family, including the usual mix of plans, surprises, and theme park reality setting in.

Then Jon gives us his review of his dining experience at Biergarten Restaurant in EPCOT’s Germany Pavilion before we wrap things up with something new: May theme park stats tracked by Tom’s soon-to-be-released ThrillLedger app.

It’s FIFA, food, family, stats, and a host who definitely had a plan… until he didn’t.

In this episode:

• Why Episode 268 breaks from the usual format
• LEGOLAND Florida’s FIFA® World Cup 2026 Experience
• Universal CityWalk’s FIFA World Cup Watch Party
• The return of Universal Mega Movie Parade
• Tom’s SeaWorld Orlando visit with Elena and family
• Jon’s Biergarten Restaurant dining experience at EPCOT
• May theme park stats from Tom and Jon
• A preview of how ThrillLedger tracks park visits, attractions, and more

So until the next podcast, vlog or livestream, keep making memories.

In Episode 267 of the Vacationeers Theme Parks & More Podcast, Tom is joined by Jon to talk through a busy week of theme park updates, food reviews, and in-park testing.

We start with some “old breaking news,” including Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure no longer being included with Universal Express beginning July 1, plus the news that Bad Bunny will voice a pizza character named Pizza with Sunglasses in Toy Story 5.

Then we head into Universal Orlando Resort’s opening weekend of Summer at Universal. We discuss the overall event atmosphere, the noticeable lack of a parade, and some of the featured summer food offerings. We also review a newer menu item that is not tied to the summer event but absolutely got our attention: the S’mores Cookie at Cafe 4 in Islands of Adventure.

Food discussed in this episode:

S’mores Cookie at Cafe 4 in Islands of Adventure — $6.29

We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat Platter at Richter’s Burger Co. in Universal Studios Florida — $22.99

Irene’s Creamsicle Cheesecake Calzone at Minion Cafe in Universal Studios Florida — $11.99

Finally, we talk about our Magic Kingdom visit on Wednesday, May 13, when the park closed early at 5:30 PM for a private event. Early close days are often rumored to have lighter crowds, so we rope-dropped the park to see if attraction wait times were actually lower.

Magic Kingdom ride timing discussed:

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad — delayed

Haunted Mansion — Posted 13 minutes / Actual 2 minutes

Jungle Cruise — Posted 5 minutes / Actual 1 minute

Pirates of the Caribbean — Posted 5 minutes / Actual 1 minute

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure — Posted 5 minutes / Actual 1 minute

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train — Posted 25 minutes / Actual 24 minutes

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin — Posted 25 minutes

Space Mountain — Posted 5 minutes / Actual 13 minutes

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So until the next vlog, podcast or livestream, keep making memories.

In Episode 266 of the Vacationeers Theme Parks & More Podcast, Tom and Jon recap a packed week of theme park visits, including AquaGlow at Aquatica, Pass Member perks gone wrong, Soarin’ Across America, Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, Expedition Odyssey Fire & Ice, and Peppa Pig Theme Park. 

They also discuss HHN’s newly announced Sinners house, the Mandalorian and Grogu update to Smugglers Run, and Bluey’s Wild World opening at Animal Kingdom.

In Episode 265 of the Vacationeers Theme Parks & More Podcast, Tom is joined by Jon to break down their full Busch Gardens Tampa All-Day Dining 2026 experience from Saturday, May 9.

The park was open from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, giving us a full 12-hour window to put the dining plan to the test. We ate at multiple locations across the park, including Zagora Café, Zambia Smokehouse, BG Cuban Café, Dragon Fire Grill, Oasis Pizza, and even made a stop at Giraffe Bar to use Busch Bucks.

We discuss what we ate, what worked, what didn’t, where the best value was, and whether Busch Gardens Tampa’s All-Day Dining is still worth it in 2026.

Our total if paid à la carte would have been $284.36. The All-Day Dining price was $60, and after using $20 in Busch Bucks, Tom’s actual cost was only $40 plus tax.

Watch the Busch Gardens Tampa All-Day Dining 2026 vlog:

https://youtu.be/3cj5klSCFig

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So until the next vlog, podcast or livestream, keep making memories.

In this episode of the Vacationeers Theme Parks & More Podcast, Tom is joined by Jon to catch up on recent theme park visits, livestreams, food reviews, and a packed round of theme park news.

We start in The Queue with updates from SeaWorld Orlando’s Seven Seas Food Festival, Universal Orlando’s UOAP Bonus Benefits, EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival livestreams, House of Blues, Gideon’s Bakehouse, Chicken Guy, Busch Gardens Tampa, and Discovery Cove.

Then we move into the news, including the latest quarterly results from Disney, Universal/Comcast, United Parks & Resorts, and Six Flags, plus major updates from around the theme park industry.

Stories discussed include:

• Universal Orlando confirming the phased closure of The Lost Continent at Islands of Adventure
• Universal’s Horror Make-Up Show temporarily closing for a reimagined version
• Universal replacing Thunder Falls Terrace with a new full-service dining concept
• Disney World reopening Big Thunder Mountain Railroad after refurbishment
• Disney Springs adding Level99 and Six Ravens this summer
• Walt Disney World adding its first new Magic Kingdom ferryboat since 1976
• SeaWorld Orlando’s Electric Ocean returning with a new drone show
• Six Flags bringing Holiday in the Park back to Six Flags Over Georgia and Six Flags Great Adventure

From earnings reports to ferryboats, closing lands, returning festivals, drone shows, cookies, and theme park food, this episode covers a little bit of everything.

So until the next vlog, podcast or livestream, keep making memories.

Tom is joined once again by Kris and Dave from Adventures by D and Dave’s Dugout Grill for a coaster-filled theme park road trip episode!

In Episode 263 of the Vacationeers Theme Parks & More Podcast, the group talks about Kris and Dave’s recent visit to Six Flags Over Georgia during opening weekend, including their thoughts on the park, operations, rides, food, and overall experience.

They also recap their visit to Carowinds during its second weekend of the season, discussing the coaster lineup, park atmosphere, and how the trip compared to Six Flags Over Georgia.

Plus, Dave previews his upcoming visit to Six Flags Over Texas, sharing what he is looking forward to and how it fits into his growing theme park adventures.

Whether you love roller coasters, theme park road trips, Six Flags parks, or just hearing friends talk parks, this episode has plenty to dig into.

Listen to the Vacationeers Theme Parks & More Podcast:

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In Episode 262 of the Vacationeers Theme Parks & More Podcast, Tom is joined by Jon for a packed episode covering Orlando theme park news, recent park visits, coaster rankings, and the final rotation of SeaWorld Orlando’s Seven Seas Food Festival menus.

We kick things off in The Queue with Jon’s Top 10 Coasters, Tom’s trip to see Collective Soul at Hard Rock Live at Universal Orlando, Sofia’s prom night at EPCOT, and a visit to Magic Kingdom to ride Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.

Then we jump into the latest theme park news, including the troubling updates surrounding Sloth World Orlando, Blue Man Group returning to Orlando at ICON Park, the announced opening date and song list for Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, and the return of Disney H2O Glow After Hours at Typhoon Lagoon. We also discuss the announced dates for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, the 2026 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival dates, and the new Paradise Nights after-hours dining experience coming to Discovery Cove this summer.

For the main topic, we break down SeaWorld Orlando Seven Seas Food Festival Rotation 3, compare it against the first two rotating menus, and discuss the best, worst, and most interesting items from the full rotating menu series.

Topics include:

• Jon’s Top 10 Coasters
• Collective Soul at Hard Rock Live
• EPCOT prom night
• Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin scores
• Sloth World Orlando news
• Blue Man Group returning to Orlando
• Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets
• Disney H2O Glow After Hours
• Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party dates
• EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival 2026 dates
• Paradise Nights at Discovery Cove
• SeaWorld Orlando Seven Seas Food Festival Rotation 3
• Best and worst rotating menu items

So until the next vlog, podcast or livestream, keep making memories.

On this episode of the Vacationeers Theme Parks & More Podcast, Tom welcomes back Ian for a coaster-packed conversation as they each rank their top 10 roller coasters they’ve ridden.

With Tom’s coaster count at 229 and Ian’s at 206, there is plenty of track record behind these rankings. Along the way, they also give some love to their honorable mentions and call out a few rides that landed on their least favorite coaster lists. From elite airtime machines to rides that just did not do it for us, this is a fun, opinion-filled episode for coaster fans who love rankings, hot takes, and a little chaos.

Whose list is better? Which coasters made the cut? And which rides got absolutely no mercy?

Listen now and see where your favorites stack up against ours.

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Whether you agree with our rankings or think we completely lost the plot somewhere around steel, wood, or launch coasters, let us know your top 10.

So until the next vlog, podcast or livestream, keep making memories.